WEBVTT ARRESTED IN A HUGE HEROIN DRUG TRAFFICKING RING. JOYCE: AS WISN 12 NEWS CHRISTINA PALLADINO REPORTS, FEDERAL AGENTS SAY THESE ARRESTS WILL MAKE A BIG DENT IN THE HEROIN AND FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE AREA. >> FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY 45-YEAR-OLD EDGARDO RIVERA CONTINUED TO DEAL DRUGS WHILE UNDER FEDERAL INDICTMENT. HE'S THE RINGLEADER OF THE RIVERA GANG, A MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR OF HEROIN, COCAINE AND OTHER HARD DRUGS IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA. >> THE RIVERA HEROIN TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION PROFITED BY SELLING POISON TO OUR KIDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND COLLEAGUES. >> FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCED THE CHARGES AGAINST 18 PEOPLE WITHIN THE RIVERA GANG. THEY WERE ARRESTED EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE, KENOSHA, AND CHICAGO. NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE NEAR 51ST AND CLEVELAND SAY THEY WERE AWOKEN BY SWAT TEAMS SURROUNDING THE UPPER UNIT OF THIS HOUSE. >> SEEN COPS EVERYWHERE ALL THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD, BOTH ENDS WERE BLOCKED OFF. >> ACROSS NEARBY SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS YOU CAN STILL SEE , WHERE FENCES WERE KICKED IN AND POLICE GLOVES DISCARDED FROM THE RAIDS. DRUGS WERE GETTING TO THE RIVERA GANG FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> THESE PEOPLE WERE BEING SUPPLIED ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATION BY SOURCES IN PLACES LIKE CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA, FLORIDA, AND EVEN FROM PUERTO RICO. >> AND POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR TWO OF THE GANG MEMBERS WHO REMAIN AT LARGE. IF CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT, THESE SUSPECTS COULD POTENTIALLY